Ezra Jack Keats

children's books · collage art · diversity · illustrator

Master of collage. Ezra Jack Keats created his beautiful illustrations by cutting and pasting colored paper, paint, and prints together instead of just drawing or painting. His unique style made each page feel like a celebration of color and texture.

The Snowy Day magic. His most famous book, The Snowy Day, won the Caldecott Medal in 1963 and became one of the most important American children's books ever written. Kids around the world still love reading about a little boy named Peter playing in the snow.

Champion of inclusion. Before Ezra Jack Keats, most children's books showed only white families and neighborhoods. He was one of the first to feature characters of many different backgrounds and cultures in mainstream children's literature.

Prolific storyteller. Keats wrote 22 books himself and illustrated at least 70 more during his career. His stories have been translated into about 20 languages so children everywhere could enjoy his work.

Revolutionary technique. His collage method was groundbreaking for children's book illustration and inspired many other artists to experiment with mixed media and unconventional materials.